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Is that something the Kyokai can even do? If someone wants out, they’re out. It’s not like a corporation or public body where someone falls on their sword after a scandal, but the bosses tell them they’re too important to be let go and throws the resignation in the bin.

Technicality. Not refusing the resignation.

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Among the funniest memories about Aminishiki (for me) is how he always seemed to get into Kotooshu's head. They have a balanced H2H, which is good for Aminishiki as the other dude was basically Ozeki for all of his career.

The most telling bout of this "rivalry" was probably the zensho spoiler at Natsu 2008, where Kotooshu entered day 13 after slaying Asashoryu and Hakuho back to back. He must have expected some trickery from Aminishiki, but the latter just blew him off with a straight in-your-face tachi-ai.

[Kotooshu won the yusho by beating no less than five active or future Yokozuna plus four past, active or future Ozeki, and the brightest of all young talent at the time in Wakanoho.]

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I heard some talk about the Kyokai not accepting his resignation. Anyone else hear that?

Well his intai has only been listed on the official page as of today, and the hoshitori has credited him with absences through to Day 11 (for 0-3-8) rather than ending at Day 9 (for 0-3-6) as would have been appropriate given the time his intai statement was made (before the Day 10 juryo action). In any case, there's an official statement now that his succession to the Ajigawa name was approved by the rijikai today, so that's probably been the root cause of the delay.

Edited July 17 by Asashosakari

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Long needed, and I congratulate him on his decision after such a long and illustrious career. In his retirement interview (upthread) he said something about finally finding the strength to retire. So many athletes have this problem, hanging it up when it's time. Good for him for finding that strength, and good luck in this next phase of his career.

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Yesterday the intention to retire was made public, and the news mentioned that next the resignation papers will be handed in. The only thing unusual is that he/they told the media the resignation before starting the actual process.

Edited July 17 by Akinomaki

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In his retirement interview (upthread) he said something about finally finding the strength to retire. So many athletes have this problem, hanging it up when it's time. Good for him for finding that strength, and good luck in this next phase of his career. ﻿

Which "strength to retire in time " exactly you're praising a 40-year-old for whose orthopaedically fortified body was finally busted for good escapes me...

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Yesterday the intention to retire was made public, and the news mentioned that next the resignation papers will be handed in. The only thing unusual is that he/they told the media the resignation before starting the actual process.

Yep, though oft criticised, the NSK - like any org - likes/wants/needs to know what's up with its members before the general public does.

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You’re misquoting there. I don’t think Fukurou was praising strength to retire in time, just the strength to retire at all.

He could have just sat out until his knee got better enough to do sumo on, but how pathetic would it have been for him to be fighting in jonidan if it took that long? And the competition down low is fierce, he may not have been able to compete at his advanced age. Better to retire with class than hang on in his situation. I’m just glad he did it.

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He could have just sat out until his knee got better enough to do sumo on, but how pathetic would it have been for him to be fighting in jonidan if it took that long? And the competition down low is fierce, he may not have been able to compete at his advanced age. Better to retire with class than hang on in his situation. I’m just glad he did it.

Aminishiki has never won any yusho on any division whatsoever, that would be a way to fix that.

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Which "strength to retire in time " exactly you're praising a 40-year-old for whose orthopaedically fortified body was finally busted for good escapes me...

I apparently misquoted slightly, but this is what I was referring to when I wrote about "finally finding the strength to retire", from the upthread interview:

Quote

On his retirement "I finally found the strength to stop. There are some regretful parts of course but I did what I had to do. I've accepted it all so as a result I don't feel any regret. I went to the hospital to get advice about my knee but I can't do the sumo I have in mind anymore so I thought it'd be unreasonable to continue"

Edited July 18 by Fukurou

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I'm still a relative newcomer to sumo (Early 2017). So when I first started watching I heard about Aminishiki trying to return to Makuuchi and how everyone was pulling for him as the beloved veteran amongst the sekitori ranks.

When I started seeing his matches, I saw why. His ability to use every trick in his book, giving every ounce of effort, all while having knees held together by chewing gum and some recycled safety pins made me also fall in love with him.

It wasn't until after seeing a few matches that I read up on his history and saw that he started sumo when I was in the 4th grade (1997!) and was the last active rikishi to give Takanohana a kinboshi.

Getting to see him return to Makuuchi, get his KK, and special prize on final day at age 39 will always be a special moment I remember.